Gaming system and method for providing a poker game

ABSTRACT

The elegance and simplicity of the present invention is its taking pure electronic video poker in a new direction. This invention, with a portal, takes video poker from a static, single screen playing field with known values to a video poker format with a portal into another playing screen whenever any four of a kind, with maximum coins bet, is made by the player. This invention has a primary playing screen, a portal into an informative secondary screen which moves into a bonus screen. The player becomes interactive with the game on the bonus screen and choices he makes on the touch screen determine the amount of winnings the player will receive. When play has finished on the bonus screen, the primary screen returns and regular play video poker resumes. This innovative invention with a portal into other screens allows the player to be interactive in this game in determining their own winnings.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/863,904, filed on Apr.16, 2013, which is a divisional of, claims priority to and the benefitof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/906,928, filed on Mar. 13, 2005,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,465, which claims priority to and the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/553,369, filed on Mar. 15,2004, the entire contents of which are each incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates primarily to electronic video poker played by asingle player against a pay table with known and unknown values. Asopposed to other video poker games that exist and are played on asingle, static screen with known values, this innovative invention has aportal that takes a player into another playing screen when four of akind are made with maximum coins bet (5). The primary playing screen isreplaced by a secondary screen welcoming the player, describing theupcoming playing screen, followed by a “Shuffle Up and Deal” buttonicon, which the player must touch in order to move into the new playing(bonus) screen. When the bonus screen appears a deck of 52 cards plusthe joker (bonus card) is dealt face down. The player now becomesinteractive with this invention in determining what he wins. The numberof picks the player has on this bonus screen is determined by the fourof a kind he has made on the primary screen. All cards have specificmonetary values, when the player picks (touches) a card, it immediatelyflips over and the player can see what he has won, the total accruing ina box in the right hand corner of the bonus screen. When all picks aremade, the remaining cards flip over so the player can see the rest ofthe deck including the most important card, the joker. The primaryplaying screen reappears, all money or credits from the bonus screentransfer into the player's main screen total amount and normal playresumes. This present invention is elegant in its simplicity and beautyof play. This video poker invention with a portal into literallyanywhere, with unlimited possibilities, is innovative and totallyinteractive with the player in determining what they win.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The elegance of this present invention is its taking pure video poker toa new level of play. This invention, with a portal, changes the face ofvideo poker, taking it from a static, single screen playing field withknown value pay tables to a video poker format, with a window intoendless possibilities, on the back side of this invention. Playerinteraction in determining their own fate, with regard to winnings, isalso a very powerful part of this present invention. This video pokergame is unique in conceptual design and dimensional format. Any type ofgame can be put on the backside of this format.

General Format of Invention: The player is dealt a single five-card handfrom a standard fifty-two card poker deck. The pay table (FIG. 1) showsthe player, in order to go into the bonus screen, he must play themaximum coins (5) per hand. All cards dealt with a lesser amount wagered(1 to 4 coins) have their values on the pay table. When a player has wonany four of a kind with maximum coins bet, the primary screen isreplaced with a secondary screen welcoming the player in to the upcomingbonus screen, with explanations on play and number of choices. Theplayer proceeds to the bonus screen after he touches a button iconsaying “Shuffle Up and Deal.”

Depending on which four of a kind the player has made, with maximumcoins bet, determines the number of picks the player will receive whengoing into the bonus screen:

Four aces three picks. Four twos, threes or fours two picks. Four fivesthrough kings one pick.

Value of the deck of cards (FIG. 2) plus the joker, dealt on the bonusscreen: Example: A quarter video poker game.

Joker $1000.00 Aces (4) $100.00 Twos, threes or fours (12) $75.00 Fivesthrough kings (36) $50.00

Regardless of denomination played, the Joker (bonus card) is the samepayout as the Royal Flush. Example: On a nickel machine, the Joker wouldpay $200.00. All pays are relative to the denomination played.

Example: A player has moved into the bonus screen having hit fourthrees. The cards have been dealt face down and he will make two picks.He touches one of the cards and the Queen of Spades flips over, so farhe has won $50.00. He touches another card, the Ace of Hearts flips overfor $100.00. The player has won a total of $150.00. This player has justdetermined his own fate in the amount of money he has won, a verypowerful emotion. Of course what anyone who plays this wants to do ispick the Joker. The interaction between this present invention and theplayer is unlike any other. The potential to win an amount similar tothe Royal Flush on the turn of a card, that you yourself have chosen, isunique. If the player turns over the Joker, a celebratory message withstars and confetti, explodes out of the card for 5 seconds then retractsback into the card. Once all picks have been made, the player will bereturned to the primary playing with the amount won in the bonus screen,being added to his main screen credits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representation of the pay table display for the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a representation of the design for the front (face) side of acard in the Bonus Screen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Primary Screen

The present invention is an electronic video poker game designed to beplayed by a single player on a video screen using a fifty-two card pokerdeck. Once the player chooses the amount he wishes to wager he pressesthe “bet one credit” button or the “max bet” button or one of the iconson the touch screen to begin play. The initial deal of five cards beginsplay, where the player may choose to keep or discard one or all of thecards on the video screen, cards being replaced for the discards afterthe draw button is pushed or the similar icon on the screen is touched.The player can achieve this by using buttons on the machine or using thetouch screen.

The outcome of this play determines whether the player has a winninghand or not. The player can look at the pay table to see whatconstitutes a winning hand. A player is paid according to the pay tablevalues and number of coins bet on the hand. Unlike other video poker paytables, the present invention has three spaces on the pay table whichstate “ENTER BONUS SCREEN” in them. Those being the five coins betcolumn for any winning hand of four of a kind.

Entering the Secondary Screen

When the player has made four of a kind on the primary playing screen,that screen disappears and a secondary screen appears welcoming theplayer into the upcoming playing screen, a bonus screen. Information onthis screen also describes the bonus screen, how to play and the numberof selections the player will make. Also note, various modifications,additions and words may be added to this screen, clarity being the mostimportant feature. At the end of the information will be a large“SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!” button (icon), centered towards the bottom of thescreen, that the player must touch with his finger in order to move intothe bonus screen. Once a player has read this screen and knows theformat, the next time he has made any four of a kind with maximum coinsbet, the transition time from the primary screen to the bonus screen isminimal, just touch the ‘SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL’ icon to move into thebonus screen.

Entering the Bonus Screen

When this screen appears, fifty-two cards from a poker deck plus theJoker are dealt face down. Also on this screen, the player is informedon the number of selections he will make. The player is now in theposition of determining his own fate concerning the amount he wins. Thisis a very powerful connection between the present invention and theplayer. The player is interactive with this game, he is participating inand determining through his own selections, what amounts he will make inthe bonus screen. All fifty-three cards are assigned a monetary valuerelative to the denomination being played. The beauty and simplicity ofthis invention, in the bonus screen, is the fact that anyone has thepotential to win an amount equal to that of a Royal Flush with maximumcoins played, for any four of a kind. When the player has made hischoice(s), the screen reverts back to the original primary playingscreen, all money or credits won in the bonus screen are transferred tothe player's primary screen total or credits. Normal play resumes.

While the present invention has been with respect to specificembodiments, they should be considered illustrative rather thanlimiting. Various modifications and additions may be made and will beapparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present inventionshould not be limited by the foregoing description but rather, bedefined by the following claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A gaming device comprising: adisplay device; an input device; a processor; and a memory device whichstores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to operate with the display device andthe input device to: (a) display a play of a primary poker game, whereinthe primary poker game includes a plurality of playing cards, whereindifferent pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality ofdifferent poker hands, each poker hand is associated with a payoutamount, and a designated one of said payout amounts has a firstprobability of being provided in said primary poker game; and (b)display a play of a bonus game upon an occurrence of one of a pluralityof triggering events, said bonus game including a plurality of payoutamounts, wherein the designated payout amount has a second probabilityof being provided in said bonus game, wherein said second probability isgreater than said first probability and wherein for each play of thebonus game: (i) a plurality of symbols of the bonus game are eachdetermined regardless of each of the playing cards of the poker game,(ii) a number of said symbols of the bonus game is determined regardlessof a total number of the playing cards displayed for the formed pokerhand, (iii) said bonus game is separate from the primary poker game, and(iv) the bonus game is a different game than said primary poker game. 2.The gaming device of claim 1, wherein for each play of the bonus game,the plurality of symbols are each associated with a payout amount and atleast one of the symbols is associated with the designated payoutamount.
 3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein when executed by theprocessor upon the occurrence of one of said triggering events, saidplurality of instructions cause the processor to control the play of thebonus game by: (i) determining a quantity of picks of said symbols,wherein the quantity of picks is based on the occurred triggering event;(ii) receiving a selection of one of the symbols for each determinedquantity of picks; and (iii) providing any payout amounts associatedwith any picked symbols.
 4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includesa housing, and a plurality of input devices supported by the housing,said plurality of input devices including an acceptor, and a cashoutdevice, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality ofinstructions cause the processor to operate with the plurality of inputdevices to: if a physical item is received via the acceptor: (i)identify the received physical item, and (ii) establish a credit balancebased, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with thereceived physical item, and if a cashout input is received via thecashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with thecredit balance.
 5. A gaming device comprising: a display device; aninput device; a processor; and a memory device which stores a pluralityof instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to operate with the display device and the input device to:(a) display a play of a primary game, wherein the primary game includesa plurality of primary game symbols, wherein different pluralities ofsaid primary game symbols form a plurality of different winning primarygame symbol combinations, each winning primary game symbol combinationis associated with a payout amount, and a designated one of said payoutamounts has a first probability of being provided in said primary game;and (b) display a play of a bonus game upon an occurrence of one of aplurality of triggering events, said bonus game including a plurality ofpayout amounts, wherein the designated payout amount has a secondprobability of being provided in said bonus game, wherein said secondprobability is greater than said first probability and wherein for eachplay of the bonus game: (i) a plurality of bonus game symbols of thebonus game are each determined regardless of each of the primary gamesymbols of the primary game, (ii) a number of said bonus game symbols ofthe bonus game is determined regardless of a total number of the primarygame symbols displayed for the formed primary game symbol combination,(iii) said bonus game is separate from the primary game, and (iv) thebonus game is a different game than said primary game.
 6. The gamingdevice of claim 5, wherein for each play of the bonus game, theplurality of bonus game symbols are each associated with a payout amountand at least one of the bonus game symbols is associated with thedesignated payout amount.
 7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein whenexecuted by the processor upon the occurrence of one of said triggeringevents, said plurality of instructions cause the processor to controlthe play of the bonus game by: (i) determining a quantity of picks ofsaid bonus game symbols, wherein the quantity of picks is based on theoccurred triggering event; (ii) receiving a selection of one of thebonus game symbols for each determined quantity of picks; and (iii)providing any payout amounts associated with any picked bonus gameSymbols.
 8. The gaming device of claim 5, which includes a housing, anda plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality ofinput devices including an acceptor, and a cashout device, wherein whenexecuted by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause theprocessor to operate with the plurality of input devices to: if aphysical item is received via the acceptor: (i) identify the receivedphysical item, and (ii) establish a credit balance based, at least inpart, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,and if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause aninitiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.
 9. A methodof operating a gaming device, said method comprising: (a) causing adisplay device to display a primary poker game, wherein the primarypoker game includes a plurality of playing cards which form a pluralityof different poker hands, wherein each poker hand is associated with apayout amount, and a designated one of said payout amounts has a firstprobability of being provided in said primary poker game; and (b) uponan occurrence of one of a plurality of triggering events, causing thedisplay device to display a play of a bonus game, wherein for each playof the bonus game: (i) a plurality of symbols of the bonus game are eachdetermined regardless of each of the playing cards of the poker game,(ii) a number of said symbols of the bonus game is determined regardlessof a total number of the playing cards displayed for the formed pokerhand, (iii) the bonus game is separate from the primary poker game, and(iv) the bonus game is a different game than said primary poker game,wherein said bonus game includes a plurality of payout amounts, whereinthe designated payout amount has a second probability of being providedin said bonus game, and said second probability is greater than saidfirst probability.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein for each play ofthe bonus game, the plurality of symbols are each associated with apayout amount and at least one of the symbols is associated with thedesignated payout amount.
 11. The method of claim 10, which includes:(i) determining a quantity of picks of said symbols in the bonus game,wherein the quantity of picks is based on the occurred triggering event;(ii) receiving a selection of one of the symbols for each determinedquantity of picks; and (iii) providing any payout amounts associatedwith any picked symbols.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein any of saidpayout amounts provided causes an increase of a credit balance which isincreasable via: (i) an acceptor of a physical item associated with amonetary value, and decreasable via a cashout device.
 13. A method ofoperating a gaming device, said method comprising: (a) causing a displaydevice to display a primary game upon a placement of a wager amount,wherein: (i) the primary game includes a plurality of primary gamesymbols which form a plurality of different winning primary game symbolcombinations, (ii) each winning primary game symbol combination isassociated with a payout amount, and (iii) a designated one of saidpayout amounts has a first probability of being provided in said primarygame; and (b) upon an occurrence of one of a plurality of triggeringevents, causing the display device to display a play of a bonus game,wherein for each play of the bonus game: (i) a plurality of bonus gamesymbols of the bonus game are each determined regardless of each of theprimary game symbols of the primary game, (ii) a number of said bonusgame symbols of the bonus game is determined regardless of a totalnumber of the primary game symbols displayed for the formed primary gamesymbol combination, (iii) the bonus game is separate from the primarygame, and (iv) the bonus game is a different game than said primarygame, wherein said bonus game includes a plurality of payout amounts,wherein the designated payout amount has a second probability of beingprovided in said bonus game, and said second probability is greater thansaid first probability.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein for eachplay of the bonus game, the plurality of bonus game symbols are eachassociated with a payout amount and at least one of the bonus gamesymbols is associated with the designated payout amount.
 15. The methodof claim 14, which includes: (i) determining a quantity of picks of saidbonus game symbols in the bonus game, wherein the quantity of picks isbased on the occurred triggering event; (ii) receiving a selection ofone of the bonus game symbols for each determined quantity of picks; and(iii) providing any payout amounts associated with any picked bonus gamesymbols.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein any of said payout amountsprovided causes an increase of a credit balance which is increasablevia: (i) an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetaryvalue, and decreasable via a cashout device.